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Chlamydia definitions

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  • Chlamydia trachomatis
    Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium responsible for the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection.
  • Elementary bodies
    Infectious, metabolically inactive form found outside host cells, enabling transmission to new cells.
  • Reticulate bodies
    Larger, metabolically active form replicating within host cell vesicles, dependent on host metabolism.
  • Obligate intracellular pathogen
    Microbe that can only replicate inside host cell vesicles, unable to survive or multiply outside cells.
  • Non-gonococcal urethritis
    Urethral inflammation not caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, often linked to this bacterial infection.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
    Chronic inflammation of uterine tubes and uterus, leading to pain, fertility issues, and increased miscarriage risk.
  • Neonatal conjunctivitis
    Eye infection in newborns acquired during birth from infected mothers, potentially causing irritation or blindness.
  • Nucleic acid amplification test
    Sensitive diagnostic method, such as PCR, used to detect bacterial DNA in clinical samples.
  • Doxycycline
    Antibiotic commonly used to treat this infection, with high effectiveness and minimal resistance.
  • Azithromycin
    Single-dose antibiotic option for effective treatment, offering convenience and low resistance rates.
  • Asymptomatic infection
    Condition where individuals carry the bacterium without noticeable symptoms, increasing risk of undetected spread.
  • Epithelial cells
    Primary host cells targeted by the bacterium, lining the urethra, cervix, and other mucosal surfaces.
  • Condom use
    Preventive measure significantly reducing transmission by acting as a barrier at common infection sites.
  • Antibiotic resistance
    Phenomenon where bacteria survive despite antibiotic treatment; notably rare in this infection.
  • Cervicitis
    Inflammation of the cervix, often presenting with discharge or bleeding, and commonly associated with this infection.